As I was listening to the radio this afternoon, I learned that Baylor quarterback Seth Russell would need neck surgery and would miss the rest of the season.
After that, the radio show hosts completely changed their tune. Instead of talking about the anticipated November 27 showdown between Baylor and TCU, they started asking if Oklahoma State could wrestle the top spot away from Horned Frogs.
Now, don’t get me wrong: The Cowboys absolutely belong in that conversation. At the rate its defense is forcing turnovers, you can expect Oklahoma State will be in the mix over the final few weeks of the season.
However, the point that really stuck with me was that the talk show hosts completely dismissed Baylor as a contender because of the injury to Seth Russell. While his absence from the lineup won’t make the team better, the Bears are still a College Football Playoff candidate without Russell under center.
Make no mistake about it: Russell was having a fantastic season. Through seven games, he led the nation in touchdown passes (29) and yards per attempt (10.5), and was averaging 300 yards per game. He’d provided plenty of punch on the ground as well, rushing for 402 yards and 6 TDs, including a 160-yard effort against West Virginia a few weeks ago.
With numbers like that, it’s easy to see why people wrote off the Bears when they learned the severity of the injury. How could a backup quarterback possibly match that type of production?
A quick look at the history books shows that it’s possible. After all, Cardale Jones stepped in for an injured J.T. Barrett (who stepped in for an injured Braxton Miller), and guided Ohio State to three straight must-win victories, culminating in a national championship. Oklahoma true freshman Jamelle Holieway did the same thing in 1985, taking over for an injured Troy Aikman to lead the Sooners to eight straight victories.
Okay, it’s possible, but is it probable?
Of course it is! Although Baylor is best known for cranking out productive quarterbacks such as Robert Griffin III, Nick Florence, and Bryce Petty, its high-octane offense is so much more than just a one-man show. The Bear offensive line is one of the top units in the country, helping the ground game average a national-best 6.92 yards per carry, while allowing just six sacks this season – the seventh lowest total in the country.
Likewise, Baylor is loaded with talent at the skill positions. Running back Shock Linwood is one of the most explosive running backs in the land, averaging 139.14 yards per game and 8.05 yards per carry. The receiving corps is equally dangerous with Corey Coleman (20.47, 18 TDs) and Jay Lee (23.05) averaging more than 20 yards per catch. Their ability to stretch the field keeps opposing teams honest, and prevents them from loading the box to stop Linwood.
With weapons like that at his disposal, there’s no reason to think new starter Jarrett Stidham can’t be successful. He’s certainly gotten the job done when he’s been given the chance, connecting on 24 of 28 passes for 331 yards and 6 TDs.
Even if – and it’s a LaQuan McGowan-sized if – the Bear offense should struggle, the team’s defense is capable of carrying it to victory. Sure, the D gives up its share of yardage, but it’s still a very disruptive unit, ranking fifth nationally in turnovers gained (18) and eighth in TFLs per game with 8.29. Whether it’s making a tackle in the backfield to put an opponent behind the sticks, coming up with a pick, or forcing a fumble, Baylor’s defense finds a way to get the job done.
In other words: whether it’s with an explosive offense, an opportunistic defense, or some combination of the two, the Bears have enough talent to win the Big 12 conference this season — even with the loss of an extremely talented player, Seth Russell.
